Ballet Uncovered ~ Balancing Pointe Podcast

Tiler Peck was born in Bakersfield, California. She began her dance training at the age of seven, studying privately with former Bolshoi Ballet Principal Dancer Alla Khaniashvili in Hollywood. At the age of 11 she began studying at Conjunctive Point in Culver City, California, with former New York City Ballet dancers Colleen and Patricia Neary. During this time she also studied with former NYCB Principal Yvonne Mounsey at Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica. At the age of 12, Ms. Peck entered the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet, for most of the 2000-2001 Winter Term. She returned to SAB during the summers of 2002 and 2003, and that fall began as a full time student. In September 2004, Ms. Peck became an apprentice with New York City Ballet. In February 2005 she joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet and was promoted to soloist in December 2006 and principal dancer in October 2009.

Robert Fairchild was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and began his dance training at Dance Concepts at the age of four with Rebecca Bateman and Kaelynne Oliphant. His formal ballet training began at the age of ten at the Ballet West Conservatory with Sharee Lane. Other various teachers include: Laura King, Trey Barber, Brooke Healy, and Jaqueline and Heather College of Utah Regional Ballet.

Mr. Fairchild attended the 2002 and 2003 summer courses at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, and enrolled as a full time student in the fall of 2003. In June 2005, Mr. Fairchild became an apprentice with NYCB, and the following June, he joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet. He was promoted to soloist in May 2007, and in October 2009 was promoted to principal dancer.

Today I continue with my interview with Danish born Ask la Cour who is a Principal dancer with NYCB.  He began his training at the Royal Danish Ballet before coming to the U.S. in 2002 where he has danced with NYCB ever since.

Today Ask shares with us how difficult it was to move through a severe injury as well as how exciting it was to be a part of the tribute to 911 on the roof top of one in the early morning.  

Ask finishes his interview with some great advice - applicable to everyone. 

Ask la Cour was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, and began his dance training at the age of nine at the Royal Danish Ballet School, where he studied with Niels Balle, Adam Lüders, and Colleen Neary. He joined the Royal Danish Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in 2000. Mr. la Cour joined New York City Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in the fall of 2002, was promoted to the rank of soloist in May 2005, and became a principal in February 2013.

Lauren Lovette was born in Thousand Oaks, California and began studying ballet at the age of 11 at the Cary Ballet Conservatory in Cary, North Carolina. She attended summer courses at the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet, during the summers of 2004 and 2005 and enrolled at SAB as a full time student in 2006. In October 2009, Ms. Lovette became an apprentice with NYCB and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in September 2010 and was promoted to soloist in February 2013.

My recent guest NYCB apprentice Isabella Lafreniere shares with Balancing Pointe some really great news.  Tune in to hear first hand exactly what is so exciting!

Today’s guest Lexi Maxwell is a Corps de Ballet member of the NYCB.  She shares with us some of her ups and downs and how grateful she is to be dancing with NYCB as it is truly a dream come true for her. 

Lexi grew up in Minnesota where she started her ballet training at Minnesota Dance Theatre (MDT).  When she was 14 years old, Lexi moved to Pennsylvania where she spent three years training at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB).  When she was 17, Lexi spent the summer at SAB and was asked to stay for their winter term during the last hour of the last week of the program. 

She moved to NYC and only a few months later received the invitation to become an apprentice.  One year later, she received a contract with NYCB as a member of the Corps de Ballet.

Isabella is a graduating high school senior who is also dancing professionally as an apprentice with NYCB a prestigious honor provided to few.  Isabella grew up living in many states but wound up for many years living in Illinois in a suburb outside of Chicago.  She would travel 1 1/2 hours each way into the city to train at the Joffrey Ballet.  When Isabella was entering into her 9th grade year she auditioned for the School of American Ballet (SAB) winter term and was accepted.  SAB which is the official training academy of the New York City Ballet.

After the SAB Workshop performances in her 11th grade year, Isabella was asked to be an Apprentice.  During her senior year of high school Isabella has been juggling a full load of school and dancing professionally with the NYCB company.  Today we learn more about what it is like to be an apprentice in one of the top companies in the world.

Nearly all of the current members of New York City Ballet received training at the School of American Ballet and entered the Company through the Apprentice Program, which is jointly administered by NYCB and SAB. Only students enrolled at the School are eligible for apprenticeships. NYCB does not hold auditions.

Each year, NYCB Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins invites a small number of advanced students, usually ranging in age from 16 to 18, to become apprentices, providing the first stage of their professional careers. Apprentices take class and rehearse with the Company six days a week at NYCB’s Lincoln Center facilities. 

Today I am talking with Daniela Aldrich who from Carlisle Pennsylvania and who now dances as an apprentice with NYCB.  Daniela spent two years at the School of American ballet before being asked to be an apprentice.  

Nearly all of the current members of New York City Ballet received training at the School of American Ballet and entered the Company through the Apprentice Program, which is jointly administered by NYCB and SAB. Only students enrolled at the School are eligible for apprenticeships. NYCB does not hold auditions.

Each year, NYCB Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins invites a small number of advanced students, usually ranging in age from 16 to 18, to become apprentices, providing the first stage of their professional careers. Apprentices take class and rehearse with the Company six days a week at NYCB’s Lincoln Center facilities. 

Apprentices learn roles in a wide array of works from NYCB’s vast repertory and may perform in up to eight ballets per season in addition to the full five-week season of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker.

SAB, located at New York City's Lincoln Center, is today the premier ballet academy in the United States, training more students who go on to become professional dancers than any other school. SAB's former students fill the ranks of the New York City Ballet and other leading U.S. and international ballet companies.

Students who train year round first attend a five-week Summer Course at SAB.  Acceptance into the Summer course is by audition only.  SAB  accepts only 200 ballet students from around the world. 

As soon as the Summer Course classes commence, SAB’s faculty begin to closely assess summer students’ potential for year-round training at SAB.  By the end of the five weeks, a very select few dancers are invited to stay and train with the school for their winter term. 

In any given year, approximately 15 percent of summer students are invited to continue at SAB as Winter Term students. 

Today I am chatting with a super sweet and vivacious soloist Jordana Dumec.  Jordana grew up in NYC but wound up moving to Toronto when she was in 10th grade to train year round.  Her journey in dance reflects a true LOVE and passion for what she does every day.

Jordana Daumec was born in New York City and trained at Studio Maestro in New York City and Canada’s National Ballet School. She joined The National Ballet of Canada as an Apprentice in 2003 and was promoted to Second Soloist in 2010.